Do Spring Allergies Bring Thoughts of Suicide? (The Atlantic)

Inflammatory reaction may underlie seasonal association

Suicides peak in the spring and early summer, at a time when the air can be full of tree pollen, and some researchers believe the link may not be simple coincidence.

It's not merely the misery of allergic rhinitis that underlies the association, according to a report in The Atlantic, but an inflammatory reaction involving cytokine release caused by allergen exposure that can disrupt the nervous system and brain, leading to negative influences on mood. Other mechanisms common to mood disorders and allergies might also play a role, although studies have had conflicting results.